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WASHINGTON AT TAKUYTOWX. 



A PAPER READ BEFORE THE TARRYTOWN 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



B Y M A R C 1 U S D.RAYMOND, 



^rqGsdcj}' Mve., WGCGii|bei^ 16, 1890. 



PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR BY REQUEST. 



TARRYTOWN, N. Y. 
1893. 



/ ■/ / 1 ^ /■ 



-«#j"TARRYTOWN ARGUS" PRINT. J*— 



This paper is published at this time and in this form 
so that the faets whieli it cni bodies ma}- be better pre- 
servetl, and in the hope that it may be the means of 
some aAvakened interest in our k)eal histcjr}'. And so it 
is ]iresented to the members and friencKs of the Tarry- 
toAvn Historieal Soeicty ] \\'ith\ the e(,)m]diments of the 
author and pul)lisher. 

M. D. Raymond. 

Tarrytcjwn, X. Y., CJet. 30, ICS93. 



To the mcinory of tJie Patriots of Tarrytoivn 

Diii'iiig the Revolution, 

This vohtine is respeetfitllv dedicated. 



WASHINGTON AT TARRYTOWN. 




HE gathering up of the fragments of our local history, 
of the leaflets of tradition, and their pious preserva- 
tion troni the ruthless devastation of time, is a sufficient 
justihcation for the existence of this Society. It is not 
a meaningless mission, a mere innocuous sentiment, a diversion, 
without \vorthy and useful aim and results; it is a means of in- 
struction as well as a theme of interest. The present is but the 
projected past — the life evolved from yesterday, and throbbing 
with impulses received from it. Ol^serving what is, we look for 
causes — we look baclv wards. And we find that nothing happens 
by chance. P'or instance, Tarrytown \vas iiot an accident. The 
mighty convulsions of nature that separated the rock-ribbed hills 
on the east from the west, and opened up a way for the ^vaters 
of our noble River — and the broad Tappan Zee, environed by our 
castellated heights, with fertile slopes between inviting the sturdy 
Dutch burghers hither, was not an accident; it was Providence. 
And the rich legacy which has come down from them to us of 
faithful, patriotic. God-fearing, well-ordered lives, may \vell be 
])rized as among our choicest treasures. 

The story of those times, and of their lives can never fail to be 
of moment to us. The halo of romance and mystery which 
envelop them but adds to the charm of their ever fascinating 
interest. There can be but one early history of any place or 
l)eople, and this place is peculiarly blessed in that the Fathers 
made ami left it hallowed ground. There may have been 
rudeness and lack of culture among them, they may not have 
had the polish and learning of the schools, but they had the 
attractive garb of simplicity, the sturdy, rugged virtues 



6 WASHINGTON AT TARRVTOWN. 

that make for manhood and character, and so long as the 
quaint spire of the okl Dutch Church where they worshipped 
points heavenw^ard, and the venerable tomes of its records are 
preserved, and God's acre, where their sacred dust reposes 
remain, so lon.i^ shall their memory be cherished. 

And this treasure trove of history and legendary lore is shared 
and prized by others as well as ourselves. On remarking recent- 
ly to a youth in Southern Ohio, that vv^e Vv'ere from Tarr}-town; 
"Oh, yes," he replied, "That is historic ground." How much the 
arms of Washington and the genius of Irving have served to 
make it so. 

The history of Tarrytown while yet a part and parcel of the 
Manor of Phillipsburg, is in itself a distinct era, and may well 
be entitled the Patriarchal period. It was pre-eminently i>astoral 
and peaceful; the tending of the flocks and the cultivating of the 
fields, with no greater ambition than neighborhood influence and 
rural prosperity. Then came the shock and upheaval of the Re\-- 
olution. And to their everlasting ln)nor be it recorded, that not- 
withstanding the fact that the Lord of the Manor was in accord 
^^ath the King, there were but few Tories in this vicinage. From 
the first, the tenantr}' were in full sympathy with tlie cause of 
the Colonies, and although sore trials u'ere in store for them, — 
their fields devastated, their proj)erty wasted and the tragedy of 
war enacted at their doors, its rude alarms and terrible realism 
did not serve to re])ress their patriotism or awe them into sub- 
mission. The British General Howe could not well have paid 
them a higher compliment than when he said, after his fruitless 
movement in this direction in 1777, "I can do nothing ^vith this 
Dutch population; I can neither buy then with money, nor con- 
quer them by force." And then, again, later in the same year, 
date of Nov., 1777, their persistent patriotism elicited that in- 
famous brutal order from the Royal Governor Tryon, to burn 
Tarrytozvn ! Which, however, happily, in the face of the ringing 
defiance of General Parsons of the Continental Army, he had not 
the temerity to undertake. 

But ^vhat less of sturdy patriotism and courage could have 
been expected of the descendants of the heroic Netherlanders 



WASlllXCTOX AT TARRVTOWN. 7 

who under William the Silent maintained lor 30 years siiccessfvil 
resistance against the nn)st ])o\verriil and cruel despotism ol" the 
17th century in Kurope. and by their g^lorious deeds forever im- 
mortalizetl the annals of the Dutch Reinil)lic. 

The Revolutionary j)eriod was indeed of thrilling local interest, 
the records of much of ^\•hich yet remain to he gatheretl up, and 
it is not strange that the connection with it oi the name of Wash- 
ington, whose fame the genius of our own Irving has made to 
shine with brighter lustre on our coiuitry's annals, should give 
an added glow to the history and tradition of that time; for 
Washington was re])eatedly in Tarrytown, although "Washington 
at Tarrytown" is the broader theme of this paper. 

IlIF. MARN' RIIII.IJI'SK ROMANCK 

Has served in some mystical way to connect the name of Wash- 
ington with Tarr\town at an earlier date, and the follo^ving from 
an article by Wilson Cary Smith, in the American Magazine of 
///s^ory, for Fehvuarv , 1881, entitled " The Roger Morris House," 
is a bold attempt to bring the storied tale within the domain of 
history, in the averment that he passed through this place, if he 
<lid not stop here, in 1756, on the occasion of his meetin<^ the fair 
and queenly daughter of the Lord of this Manor; and though the 
ic>)aoclasts of historv have repeatedly belabored this legend with 
their little hatchets, it still survives, — that is, the fallacy of his 
visit to Mary Phillipse at the Manor House here, and of his pass- 
age through Tarrytown at that time. Otherwise the article re- 
ferred to is in the main historically correc-t, in so far as it re- 
lates to the journey from Alexandria, Virginia, to Boston, via of 
New York, where he unquestionably was the guest of Col. Bev- 
erh' Robinson, but it was at his house in the city, and not at his 
country-seat in the Highlands, where he was entertained, on 
that occasion. But the writer referred to has strangely fallen 
into another error, for this journey cd" Washington was not under- 
taken in the summer of 1756, the cold facts of history informing 
us that it was on the 4th day of February that he set out, — his 
own diary, in which the minute details of events in each day's 
progress are carefully recorded, witli all the particularity so 



8 WASIIINCTOX AT TARRVTOWX. 

characteristic of him, is the imciiiestioned authority for this state- 
ment — and that he reacheil Alexandria on tlic 23d ot March on his 
return. However it sets forth our hero in sucli <^h)wing coh)i-s. 
and makes such a pretty picture of his rt)ljust manhood that the 
whole story is here given, phantasy as w^ell as fact, as follows: 

"The disputes as to relative rank between officers bearing the 
royal commission and those appointed by the Colonial Governors 
assumed such shape and importance that in the year 1756 Wash- 
ington, who 'had been duly commissioned by the Governor as 
commander of the Virginia troops, fountl his authority as such 
disputed by a Ca])tain of British regulars whose force tlid not ex- 
ceed thirty men. This absurd assumption brought tne affair to 
an issue. Washington was de])uted by the authorities of Virgin- 
ia to lay the \vhole matter before General Shirley, then Comman- 
der-in-chief of the royal forces with headtjuarters at Boston, in 
the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

"In the summer of 1756, accompanied by his aitls, Captain 
Mercer, and Captain Stewart, and a retinue of such as w^ell be- 
came his wealth, rank, and official errand, Washington started 
northward on his mission. 

"Their five-hundred miles journey, from Virginia, was on 
horse-back, attended by their black servants in livery — tlie equip- 
ments for the same as w^ell as the housings of Washington's 
horses, being sent from London per order, and emblazoned with 
the Washington arms. In their progress the}^ made a sensation 
in the country, as well by the clattering of the hoofs of their 
steeds in the streets of Philadelphia, New York and Boston. 

"No man \\'as more v.'ideh' or more favorablv known throughout 
the colonies. The hero of Fort Duquesne, \%'hom the Indians 
believed to bear a charmed life, had a personal presence and 
dignity of bearing which commendetl him to the favor of those 
among whom he now came for the first time. The most distin- 
guished honors and hospitalities were showered upon him at 
every point on his journey. ■?;•** -jf * 

"Arriving at New York, the party were entertciined for some 
days at the house of Beverly Robinson in the Highlands. Robin- 
son, a native of Virginia, had lately married Susannah, the eldest 



WASIlIXC.rOX AT TARRYTOWX. 9 

daughter of Frederick Phillipsc, owner of the Manor of Phillipse- 
burgh, an estate granted to liis grandfather by Governor Fletcher, 
which comprised a great portion of Westchester County and parts 
of Dutchess and Putnam. The entail, however, had been broken 
by the now obsolete legal process known as fine and common 
recovery, and the estate divided among the heirs at law, among 
whom was Mary Phillipse, sister of Mrs. Robinson and heiress 
in her own right of fifty thousand acres of land. Beautiful, and 
accomplished, this yoimg heiress is credited in the gossi}) of 
the day with having proved so attractive to Washington that he 
not only tarried for several days on his way to Boston, but that 
on his return he sought the fair damsel and lingered under the 
sj)ell of her charms. Some assert even that he made her an offer 
of marriage, which Avas r(.'jected." 

WASIIIXGTON'S FIRST APPEARANCE AT TARRVTOWN. 

Putting aside this romantic tradition, the fi.rst well authenticat- 
ed appearance of Washington at Tarrytown, and in this vicinity, 
\vas in the campaign of 1776, which included the disastrous re- 
treat from Long Island, and entled with the battle of White Plains 
and the withdrawal of the Continental forces to New Jersey. 
On the I 2th of July of that year, and ^vhile the main part of the 
army under Washington was yet encamped on Long Island, and 
his headciuarters were in New York, t\vo British Men-of-War, 
the Plia'nix of 44, and the Rose of 20 guns, \\'ith their tenders, 
sailed up past the city of New York, and came to anchor that 
evening off Tarrytown, causing thereby no little consternation 
to the inhabitants, and some anxiety to the Commander-in Chief. 
The object of the enemy was doubtless to encourage those favor- 
ably inclined to declare themselves for the King; but if so, they 
must have been badly disappointed, as means were at once taken 
for active resistance, there being evidence that Lieut. Col. Ham- 
montl that very night ordered out his forces to meet the enemy, 
making his headquarters at the noted Van Tassel Tavern, now 
the residence of Mr. Jacob Mott. The following official comnumi- 
cation sent by Lieut. Col. Hammond to Gen. Washington, dated 
Tarrytown, July 15th, 1776, is in this connection of interest; 



lO WASHINGTON AT TARRYTOWN. 

Tarrvtown, July 15, 1776. 

May it please your Excellency to take into account our humble 
petition. Whereas, two of the enemy's ships of war with their 
barges and tenders are arrived up the North River as far as 
Tarrytown, \ve suppt)se with a hostile design to distress us; \v4th 
the concurrence of the Congress and assistance of the Comniittee, 
and by the forwardness of a number of vt)lunteers; a considera- 
ble number of people are collected to our assistance, most of 
whom are very anxious about their harvests, \vhich are now ht 
for collection, and in a suffering condition for want of laborers. 
We therefore humbly petition your Excellency to send us such a 
number of troops as your Excellency shall judge proper, to res- 
cue the inhabitants up and down the river from the cruel designs 
of the enemy. As to further particulars must beg leave to refer 
your Excellency to the bearer. Capt. (William) Dutcher. 

Jas. Hammond, 
Lic2it.-Col. First Battalion of Militia i)i W'i'stchcstcr County. 
To the Hon. Geo. Washington, Esquire. 

The frigates sailed away up the river to the Highlands on July 
1 6th, and return^ed about Avig. 3d to this place. On the 6th of 
August Col. Thomas sent a communication to Washington show- 
ing the desirability of having some breastworks thrown up here 
in which to place cannon to aid the galleys in an anticipated at- 
tack upon the British Men-of-War. That attack took place on 
the 8th of August, and was a gallant affair, resulting ho^vever in 
a drawn battle. It ^vas doubtless during that time that the earth- 
works were thrown up on the place lately owned by Mr. C. W. 
Smith, just to the south of Tarrytowni, some vestiges of ^vhich 
still remain. 

In the meantinie Long Island had been evacuated, and after 
the battle of Harlem Plains the backward movement of the Con- 
tinental army continued until it finally took position near White 
Plains, where it engaged in unequal contest with the enemv on 
October the 28th. 

Immediately pi-eceding- the latter event still more vigorous 
measures had been taken for the defence of Tarrytown, it being 
now on the right flank of the Continental lines, and during that 
period it is believed that Washington was repeatedly here. Well 
preserved tradition has it that on one of these occasions, together 



I 



WASIIIXO TON AT TARRVTOWN. II 

with his Staff, a brilliant array t)f officers, he took a position tor 
observation on Wolf Hill, near the present residence of Col. 
Sigafus, which place has ever since been known as the Pine Tree 
Lot, a venerable pine still marking the spot near which he stood 
as he looked down i)ossibly for the first time on the broad Tappan 
Zee, where safely rode at anchor tlie hostile British frigates. It 
must have been to him a vision wliich he \vouJd not be likely to 
soon forget. 

Washington may at one time have considered the moving of 
the main army in this direction, iind so perhaps do battle here, 
but he finally decided on the Fabyan policy of falling l)ack to 
the North Castle hills. In any event, however, his right must be 
protected. It was then, just before the battle of White Plains, 
and ^vhile his headquarters were at the Miller House, (jn the east 
side of, and near the Bronx, by the Lower Cross Roads to the 
Plains, and only a short distance from our borders, that on one 
occasion he certainly was at the famous Diivids (Wm. Davids) 
house, on and between the old White Plains and the Bedford 
Roads, which is still standing, now owned and occupied by Mr. 
Abram D. Stephens, a lineal descendant of the Revolutionary 
Davids, where he held a consultation or council of \var \vith Col. 
Hammond and other officers, in regartl to the military situation 
here, and what measures should be adopted for offensive and de- 
fensive warfare. It ^^'as in the large west room of that house 
that the council was held, and around a table which is still pre- 
served in the family. The late Aunt Betsey See, ^vho was a 
Davids, and born in that house, is the unquestioned authority for 
this statement in regard to tliat api)earance of Washington at 
Tarr}'to\vn. 

As an incident of his presence there at that time, it is stated 
that a small lad of a related family, named James Vail, afterwards 
the father of the late Hammond Vail, and grandfather of Mr. J. 
H. Vail of Washington St., who happened to be present, received 
the gift of a silver dt>llar from Washington, who was much 
amused at the little fellow's ineffectual efforts to properly speak 
his name, which, o\\'ning to an impediment in his speech, he 
pronounced Washing-////^ .' That dollar was for a long time a 



12 \vashin(;to.\ at tarrvtowx. 

treasured keepsake in the family, and would now, we take it, be 
gladly redeemed at par by the Treasurer of the Tarryto\vn His- 
torieal Soeiety ! All this is substantiated by the reeolleetion of 
Mrs. Jas. Hawes, who had often heard her aged aunt tell the 
story. Washington is also said to have repeatedly visited Kaak- 
out, nearby, as related 1j}' the older citizens in days of yore. 

As the result of this visit of Washington to the Da\'ids house 
earthworks were then thrown up on the rise of ground to the 
westward, which was thereafter long known as the Breastworks 
Lot ; and also on Jones Hill, to the north, near and on the prop- 
erty of Col. Kent, the clearly defined outlines of which are still 
to be seen. It was during this period, and perhaps on his 
return from this very reconnoisance to the Davitl's house that 
W^ashington came near being captured at the house of Col. Ham- 
mond, which is still standing, being the hrst house beyond the 
brick school house, and on the north side of the road, this side, 
to the west, of Mr. Robert Bonner':., whose farm as well as the 
Reynold's place, vv-ere fornierly parts of Col. Hammond's posses- 
sions. The story is told as foliO%vs, by Aunt Betsey See, as ap- 
pears in Bolton's History of Westchester Cou.nt}' : 

ATTEMPT TO CAl'TURK WA.SIlIXdTON. 

"Col. Hammond li\'ed in the first house on the right hand side 
of the road leading from Tarrytown to VVhite Plains (the Lower 
Cross Road) just beyond the brick school house, directly M^est of 
Mr. Bonner's farm. The house used to have tall pine trees and 
very old box borders in front ; it is now owned by Mr. Kingsland. 
A part of the American Army under his command had been 1\'- 
ing in front on the fine })lateau. General Washington came one 
day to consult with him and staid quite late in the evening after 
w^hich he returned to his headcpiarters near White T^lains. The 
army had also been withdrawn and the Colonel vi-^as left alone 
for the night. Just before daybreak the Colonel's \vife was 
awakened by a heavy rinnbling noise, and she awoke her hus- 
band, but he thought it \vas only distant thunder. Soon it be- 
came louder and louder, and then it stopped directly opposite 
their house. This was followed by loud rapping at the door and 



w ASniNc; TON a i tarrn rowN. 13 

demands to open. The Col. dressed as c|uickly as jiossihle, and 
as he opened tlie door, several ICn^lish soldiers demanded his 
surrender and all within. The Colonel replied, T do surrender 
and all with me.' They then ck-man<kHl, 'Where is Gen. Wash- 
infi^ton.'' The Col. replied, 'lie left yesterday evening.' Upon 
lookin<; out of the door he saw two small held pieces ])lanted 
directly opjjosite. They were much disappointed hut took him 
to Brooklyn a prisoner, where he remained for a year. The truth 
was, a loyalist woman li\-ini;- in the neit^hhorhood had seen Gen. 
\Vashin<:;ton go there and immediately startin;^ on foot for the 
lCnL,dish lines had come back with the company. On being asked 
who she was, with a toss of the head and considerable contempt 
Aunt Betsey rejjlied, 'One Anna Bussev — a good for nothing old 
thing I"" 

The unecpial and inidecisi\-e battle of White Plains occurred 
Oct. 28th, and as l)earing upon ])ossibilities growing out of it, and 
as of local interest in itselt, the following extract from a letter 
written Ijv John McKesson, Kstj., Sec'y to the N. Y. Cc^nvention, 
dated at Fishkill, Oct. 30th, while the two armies still lav oppo- 
site each other, and sent \)y Con\'ention Rider in haste to General 
Clinton, cojded from the celebrated Clinton papers, and hereto- 
lore unpublished, is herewith given, or rather extended extracts 
1 rom it : 

Dear General: — I gratefully acknowledge your favor of ves- 
terday. I published the two first pages, and shall consider the 
third. Major Strang, arri\-etl here this evening, has given us all 
the informaticMi in his jjower of the action on the 28th, and the 
j)resent situation of both armies. The enemy have gained so 
much westing and northing by the late stretches that you cannot 
|irevent their extending to Hudson River, and agreeably to mv 
tormer ccinjectures mentioned in my letter, cut off your com- 
munications with Mt. Washington. h>om Maj. Strang's oljserva- 
tions Lord Sterling's present ground near or west of Yoinig's 
House, is not the most advantageous. From the description of 
the face of the country given by Maj. Strang and some of the 
members of Convention, Bald Hill, near David's, i 1-2 or 2 miles 
north of west of Youngs, should be immediately occupied. From 
thence is a curved chain of hills trending East, or rather North 
East, afterwards E. N. E., through which is only one natural nar- 



14 WASniNClTON AT TARRYTC^WX. 

row^ pass on the rciad which leads from Youngs. From BaKl Hill 
to Hudson River, near Phillipse Upper Mills, is |)retty high 
ground, a little more than a mile; and from Bald Hill is a chain 
of hills, or rather high ground running Sovith West on the west 
side of Brunson's, or Saw Mill River. If the enemy could be 
confined ^vithin the hills v/est of SaAv Mill River, it would keep 
open your communication \vith Tarryto\vn and keep them at a 
distance from Hudson River. From every accoimt Bald Hill 
shoidd be examined by some General officer, that if important it 
should be secured, &c. 

Bald Hill \vas perhaps another name for Kaak-out, at least 
its location nearly conforms to the description given. Other coim- 
sels how^ever prevailed, and so the defeated army of Patriots march- 
ed away and dwindled away, while Gen. Hovv^e. Vv'iih little mater- 
ial fruit of victory returned leisurely to Ne\v York. That it had 
been aperiodof great anxiety and depression to Washington is well 
evinced by the following extract from a private letter written by 
him to his brother, at Hackensack, date of N(/V. 19. He says: 
"I am Avearietl almost to death with tlie retrograde motion 
of things, and I solenmly protest that a reward of 20,000 lbs. a 
year would not induce me to luidergo what I do, and after all 
perhaps lose my character; as it is impossiljk^ luider such a 
variety of distressing circumstances to conduct matters agreeably 
to public expectation." 

The iron had already entered into his soul, but his character 
gre^\^ nobler vmder all these trials, and other and greater ones 
that w^ere before him. 

TARR^■T()\V^' DURI.NC; TlIK RKVOLUTIO.X. 

But to take a retrospective view of Tarrvtown as it was during 
this stormy period. Commencing as far southward on the old 
post road as AI)b()tsford, was the now historic Odell Tavern, 
an old stone hostelry of pre-Revokitionary construction, from 
Avhich its then owner, Jonathan Odell, the great-grandfather of 
Hon. N. Holmes Odell of this place, was rudely taken and con- 
fined, "with some of his Patriot neighbors, in the t)ld Sugar House 
Prison, New York. At the present village of Irvington, was the 
homestead of that sturdy Patriot, Capt. Wm. Dutcher ; next to 



WASHINGTON AT rAKRVTOWN. I 5 

the northward, that ol' .Ahrahaiii Ack'ci", 2d, who took up arms 
in the cause of the Coh)nies, and taken [)risoner, was tor a time 
incarcerated in the noted Su<^ar House, New York ; then we come 
to the residence of tliat valiant son of Mars, Major Jacob Van 
Tassel, who troubled the enemy not a little with his uiidnii^ht 
sallies and the \-iL;-()rous defence of his Castle with his celebrated 
Goose (inn, making Wolfert's Roost, — the future " Sunnysidc," 
fore\'er historic i;-i-ound. Then c-ame th.e homestead of Stej^hen 
Acker, a patriot partisan, and Glode Reqiui, a Captain in the 
Westchester Comity levies; tlien Ceo. llepworth, John Van Wart, 
Wm. Hunt, Win. V^an Wart, Thos. Wylde, wdio, it is said, was 
killed in the l)attle of White Plains, (his farm being lartijely the 
Benedict and Cobb estate;) then Abran.i Reviere, ^\•ho lived in the 
jn'esent D. O. Archer house, and had a l)lacksmith shoj) on the 
site of the present Savinj^s Bank ; (jCo. Combs, who li\'eil oppo- 
site, on the present Dean corner, and who was apjjointed Com- 
missar\- of the troo}:)s at Tarrx'town under command of Col. 
Hammond, b\' the \. Y. Con\-ention tlate oi" July i6. 1776, and 
was also commissioned as Ca|)tain on Jime 16, 1778, ami was 
a i)rominent citizen ; on the opi)osite, the North West corner 
of the Post Road (now Broadway) and the road to Martling's 
Lanilin^,^, was the residence and Inn of lulward Couenhoven, who 
with his wife Annatje Roome Couenhoven, had imited with the 
old Dutch Church by certificate Irom the Reformed Church in 
New York tlate of Oct. I, 1772. The plot comprised altogether 
18 acres, and extended tlown as far as the present Orchard Street. 
On the opposite side of the highway to the eastward — there was 
then no Ui)i)er Main Street — was the homestead of John Van 
Tassel 1, comprising 160 acres, the residence, which had a wide 
reputation as the Van Tassel Inn, being the present homestead of 
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Mott John Van Tassell was a volunteer in 
Col. Hammond's Regiment. Then came the lands of Michael Mc- 
Keel, 327 acres, whose residence, off from the highway, was on 
the present Chas. J. Gould place ; and to the northward of that, 
the celebrated Wm. Davids place; to the eastward on the old 
White Plains Road the Isaac Reed place, where the captors of 
Major Andre stopped for an hour with their prisoner on that 



l6 WASHINGTON AT TARRYTOWN. 

eventful and ever to be remembered 231! of September, 1780; 
and then to the northward and westward of the Davids y)lace, 
the lands adjoining the Phillipse Castle — Manor House, which ap- 
pear after the enforced retirement of Frederick Phillpse to have 
been occupied by one Wm. Pugslev, from ^^dlom it was trans- 
ferred by the Commissioners of Forfeiture in 1785 to General 
Beekman, and so became the celebrated Beekman estate. Then 
there was a small settlement at the Landing — -Martling's — of less 
than a dozen houses, where lived Capt. Daniel Martling, and his 
brother Isaac, who v/as "inh^umanly skiin," Capt. Drake, and the 
family of Buice and others. And this is all there was then of 
Tarrytown, a hamlet of perhaps something less than a hm^idred 
souls. 

During this trying period it is wonderful how on this Debata- 
ble and Bloody Ground the existence of the forms of law and 
"order and civil government were preserved. For instance we 
read from the ()ld records of the Phillipsburg Manor of that time, 
as follows : 

" Memorandum of all Public Officers appointed and chosen at 
a Town Meeting held as iisjial, in the Manor, the 6th day of April, 
1779, and in the third year of our Independency." 

The "third year of our Independency" is good. These Dutch 
burghers evidently had no thought of surrendering to the enemy. 

WASHINGTON'S NEXT APPEARANCE HERE. 

Washington next appeared at Tarrytown in the memorable 
campaign of 1781. After conference with De Rt)chambeau and 
a plan of operations agreed upon at Wethersfield in May of that 
year, the allied armies w^ere marshalled for an advance upon the 
city of Nev^^ York, Washington's right resting on the Hudson at 
Peekskill, and the French forces on his left. At 3 o'clock on the 
morning of July 2d, the Continental troops were put in motion^ 
it is said by Gordon, with each a clean shirt and 4 days' cooked 
provisions in their haversacks. The allies moved forward two 
or three days later. Washington gives the following account in 
his Diary of this day's march : 

"At 3 o'clock this morning I commenced my march with the 



WASHINCTOX AT I" AK K\ TOWN. I 7 

Continental arm\-, in order to cover the detaclied troops, and im- 
prove any advanta<2^e whieh nii<i;ht be trained \)y them. I matle a 
small halt at the New Bridge over Croton, about 9 miles from 
Peekskill; another at the Church by Tarrytown, till dusk (9 niiles 
more) and comjsleted the remaining part of the march in the 
night, arri\'ing at Valentine's Hill (Mile S(]uare) about sunrise." 

There were with Washington in this march through Tarryto\vn, 
the following Regiments, as will be noticed, all New England 
troo]js: The 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th Conn., having the right of 
the line, under Maj. Gen. Heath; the 1st, 2d, 3(1, 4tii, 5th, 6th, 7th. 
8th, 9th and loth Mass., under Maj. Gen. Lord Stirling, and Gen. 
Lincoln; 1st Rhode Island, 1st cuid 2d N. H., muler Gen. Parsons; 
the Artillerx' inider (iens. Knox and Duportail ; also Col. Sheldon's 
Legion and Gen. Wateri>ury's Light Infantry. 

And so Washington and his army marched through Tarrytown 
on the evening of July 2d, 17.S1. after resting themselves at the 
Old Dutch Church, some authorities sa}-, for two hours, for the 
march \vas wearisome even to veteran troops that hot summer 
<lay, and it was a cool resting place on the banks of the Pocanti- 
co. The crossing was then at the old bridge, c[uite a turn up the 
stream from below the Church, where the old road wound around 
to the eastward and northward, the remains of the abutments 
l)eing as yet easilv tliscerned, that on the east bank being on the 
present Brombacker jjroperty; anil so they passed over, and up 
the old highway through the now Wm. Grace lot, ami the An- 
derson (now John Webber) place, to the brow of the hill just east 
of the Wallace house, (near where the old School house stood,) 
then veering south b\- west into our jjresent Broach\'ay. The 
Troop of Horse had alreadv preceded, and the skirmish line was 
skirting the hillsides; and now the grim and rugged Continentals 
in the dusk of e\-ening go marching by. N<j flash of spears or 
gleam of helmets is in that arn y, but on their breasts shine un- 
seen shields all glistening white, the armor of brave and patriot 
hearts. The sons of the Pilgrims and the Puritans, the heroes of 
Saratoga, and Trenton, and l^randywine, and Valley Forge, 
marched there that night, and chief among them all was Wash- 
ington. And with what earnest purposeful intent to overcome 



1 8 WASHINGTON AT rARRVTOWN. 

the foe, they marched. The country had grown weary of the 
long protracted -war, and none so h)nged for the return of peace, 
as the soldier. Yet still it was "Liberty or Death!" What a 
scene to have beholden, Washington and the Continental Army 
marching through Tarrytown ! 

But W^ashington's hopes in the direction of i\^ew York were 
to be sorely disappointed. The anticipated surprise of the 
enemy, to accomplish which this extraordinar}^ march of 30 
miles or more was made that day and night, failed cjf frui- 
tion by reason of the activity ot the Tory Scouts who hovered 
in the advance, and only a reconnoisance in force was the 
result. Promised re-enforcements failed to arrive, and the 
French allies, comprising the llower of the I'^rench army of 
that time were disappointed though remaining steadfast. To 
outward appearances it w^as a grand pic-nic on the Greenburgh 
hills with just enough of skirmishing for spice, but how sore 
Washington was at heart is \vcll depicted by the following record 
transcribed from the orginal preserved in the archis'es in the of- 
fice of the Secretary of State : 

July 20, 1 78 1 — Count de Rochambeau having called upon me, 
in the name of Count de Barras, for a dehnitive plan of camj)aign, 
that he might comniunicate it to the Count de Grasse, 1 ccnild not 
but acknowledge, that the uncertainties under which we labor — 
the few men who have joined (either as recruits for the Continen- 
tal Batteries or Militia) — and the ignorance in A\'Jiich 1 am kept 
by some of the States on whom 1 mostly depended, especi^illy 
Massachusetts, from whose Gov. I have not received a line since I 
addressed him from Weathersfield, the 23d of May last, rendered 
it impracticable for me do more than to prepare, hrst, for the en- 
terprize against New York as agreed to at Weathersfield. And 
secondly, for the relief of the Southern States, if after all my ef- 
forts, and earnest application to these States it should be found at 
the arrival of Count de Grasse that I had neither men, nor means 
adequate to the first object — to give this opinion I w^as further in- 
duced from the uncertainty with respect to the time of the arri- 
val of the French Fleet, and vvTiether Land Troops would come 
in it or not as has been earnestly requested by me and inforced 
by the Minister of France. 

The uncertainty of sufficient aids of men and means from the 
States to whom application had been made and the discouraging 



WASHl.NC.lON A'l rARRVrOWN. I9 

prospect before me of ha\'iiii^ my requisitions complietl with, 
atUledto an unwillingness to incur any expense that could be avoid- 
ed induced me to desire Gen. Knox to suspend the transport of the 
heavy cannon and stores from Phihulclpliia lest we should have 
them to carry bade again or be enciunbered with them in the field. 

We quote the following brief extract from the diary of a French 
officer who gives an exceedingly interesting account of all this 
campaign translated by Rev. Dr. Todd, characterizing the army 
and its Commander-in-Chief: 

" I cannot rejjeat too often how greatly I have been surprised at 
the American Army; it is inconceivable that troops almost naked, 
poorly paid, comprising old men, boys, and negroes, should march 
equally well on the road and under lire. I hardly need to speak 
of the coolness of Gen. Washington ; it is known ; but this great 
man is a thousand times greater and more noble at the head of 
his army than at any other time." And again: "I was astordsh- 
ed at the manner in which they marched. Perfect silence and 
order reigned, to which they added the greatest celerity." 

It ^vas during this i)eriod that the so called "Action at Tarr^'- 
town" took })lace, which \vas so well described by Dr. Coutant, 
our President, in a paj^er recentl\' read before this Society, on 
Capt. Hurlbut, ^vho was on that occasion seriouslv woimded. 

And now at last, after these tentative and trying da\'s of wait- 
ing, the arrival of re-enforcements for Gen. Howe, and the fail- 
ure to receive those ])romised him, decides Washington to 
untlertake the great historic movement which resulted in the sur- 
render of Cornwallis. It \vas as if he challenged his fate, and 
Irving well and graphically says that "his soul was in arms," as 
he turned his face to\vard Yorktown. 

The following transcript from Washington's Diary, made from 
the original in the office of the Secretary of State, for this use, 
gives the order of marcli of the troops with Washington passing 
through here on the 19th of .August 1781 : 

The want of horses, or bad condition of them in the French 
army delayed the march till this day. The same causes, it is to 
be feared, will occasion a slow and disagreeable march to Elk if 
fresh horses cannot be i)rocured or better management of them 
adopted. 



20 WASHlNCrrON AT TARRYTOWN. 

The detacliment from the Americans is composed of the Light 
Infantry under Scammell — two light companies of York to be 
joined by the like number from the Connecticut line — the remain- 
der of the Jersey line — two Regiments of York — Hazens Regi- 
ment and the Regiment of Rhode Island — together with Lamb's 
Regiment of Artillery with cannt)n and other ordnance for the 
field and siege. 

Hazen's Regiment being thrown over at Dobbs Lerry, Avas or- 
dered with the Jersey troops to march and take Post on the 
heights betAV'cen Springfield and Chatham, and cover a French 
Bakery at the latter place ti) veil our real movement and create 
apprehension for Staten Island. 

The Quarter Master Genl was dispatched to King's ferry, the 
only secure passage, to prepare for the speedy transj^ortation of 
Troops across the River. 

Passed Singsing with the American cokimn — The French col- 
umn marched by the way of Northcastle, Crom] o;ul, and Pines- 
britlge, l)eing near ten miles further. 

20th. The head of the Americans arrived at King's ferry about 
ten o'clock and immediately began to cross. 

And so the return march of the army with Washington was 
made through Tarrytown. How often the story has been told 
us of the marching of the troops, of La P'ayette at l^rand\'\vine, 
of Washington at Valley Forge and Yorktown, b}-one who march- 
ed that day, a veteran soldier who was of the 'T'^)rlorn Hope," one 
of the immortal 300 who with empty muskets successfully charg- 
ed with the bayonet the redoubt in front of the American arm\' 
at Yorktown on the night of Oct. 14th, 1781, under commanel of 
Gen. Alexander Hamilton, and which compelled the speedy sur- 
render f)f Cornwallis. 

There are other well authenticated incidents of Washington in 
Tarrytown which should be recorded, while the army lay at 
Dobbs Ferry and on the hills near here in that summer of '81. 
One, his visit to a sick or wounded officer, possibly Capt. Hurl- 
but, — at the then Van Tassel Hostelry, now residence of our 
venerable friend, Mr. Jacob Mott, — one of the oldest and most in- 
teresting houses in this place, which on one occasion received the 
compliment of a cannon ball from the British lleet. Mr. and 
Mrs. Mott remember well a Mrs. Romer, who lived in later times 
with her son-in-law, "Billy" Williams, "who had a shoe shop in 



WASmXC TON AT l' AUK\ Tc )\VN. 2 1 

the j)rosfnt Savings Bank Building, telling how she had twice 
seen Washington at the then Van Tassel Inn, where he had come 
to see this officer, and that he was in the south-west corner room, 
the present parlor. 

Mrs. Ann Couenhoven Sel)ring, who was a ilaughter of lulward 
and Ann Coiienho\'en, born 1769, and died Aug. 24, KS49, used to 
tell of seeing Washington at hei" fatlu-r's Inn, the late Martin 
Smith House, corner of r.roadway and Main St., and on one oc- 
casion she remembered sitting on liis knee, being at that time, 
probabl\- I 78 I, a girl of i2 or 13 years. She is rememl)ered as a 
very interesting old lady, and her memorial stone can be seen 
near the north-west corner of the old Dutch Church, her grave 
being close betNN'een th.at of her father and mother, who enter- 
tain^'d Washington again, and as will be seen at a later date than 
she mentiojie(L 

WASIIINC.TOX'S I.A.S'l' VISIT TO T ARK Vlf )\V N. 

The following is a literal transcript from the tliary of Lieut. 
Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt, g'ving th.e record of Wasiiington's 
final \-isit to Tarr\-town, on the 19th of November, 1783, the 
original of which, now in the [)ossession of Mrs. C. K. Van Cort- 
landt of the old Manor Mouse at Croton Landing, having recently 
Ijcen in our hands for that ])urpose: 

I went from Peekskill Tuesday, the i8th of November, in com- 
pany wMth his Excellencv. Governor Clintori, Col. Benson, and 
Col. Camj)bcll ; lodged that night with Gen. (his son Phillip) 
Cortlandt at Croton river ; ])roceeded. anel lotlged Wednesday 
night at h~dw. Couenho\'en's, where we met His l^xeellen \', Gen. 
Washington and his Aids; the next night lodged with Mr. P^red 
K. Van Cortlandt, at The Yonkers, after having dined with Gen. 
Lewis Morris. Frida\' morning, in com[)any with the Comman- 
der-in-chief, as far as the Widow Day's, at Harlem, where we 
held a Council. Saturday, I rode down to Mr. Stuyvesant's. (His 
brother-in-law's.) Stayed there until Tuesday; then rode trium- 
phant into the City with the Commander-in-Chief. 

Washington had evidentlv come down in advance of the Gov- 
ernor and his party, quite |)robably with Gen. Knox and the 
Light Infantry, on their wa\' from West Point to participate in the 
ceremonies of evacuation — in the triumphal entry into the city 



22 WASHINCTON AT T ARRVTOW.V. 



of New York. He bad come leisurely on his wny, and as he 
drew near Tarrytown, his memor}- may well have recurred to 
stirring scenes in the past with which this place was associated, 
to his own personal experiences in ^var times here and near at 
hand. As he came in view of the Old Dutch Church, he remem- 
bered the marching of the troops that sultry summer day and the 
welcome rest there. As he beheld the old Phillipse Manor House 
near bv, and \vhich while stationed here it is said he had on 
repeated occasions visited, he may have thought of the fair 
daughter of its former owner, \vl:t)se suitor if accepted he had 
been, how it might have changed the current of his life and hers; i 
how' the broad acres of this Manor imtainted of treason might 
then have been l^is own. 

We say he might have thought of all this as he passed that 
way, and then as he came nearer and to the spot, and crossed the 
little stream which proveJ the fatal Rubicon to Major Andre, the 
vision of that drama may well have vividlv ap})eared to him 
— that thrilling drama in the right acting of which three Tarry- 
towni Patriots — Paulding, Williams ar.d Van Wart — were forever 
immortalized. He remembered them, and called them clearly to 
mind, for he had personally presented them with their Medals of 
ot Award, and had honored them with seats at his table. And on 
the shaft that rises there to-day to perpetuate the memory t)f that 
event is engraved with pen of steel the words of Washington, 
forever striking dumb the tongue ot calumny, and heralding their 
fair fame: 

" Their conduct merits our wiirmest esteem." — Washington. 

And so for this the last time Washington came to Tarr\-town, 
and in company with his Aids stopped at the well-kept hostelry 
of Edward Couenhoven, a i)lace not imfamiliar to him. And 
there, as is recorded, he met Governor Clintoii and Lieut. -Gov. 
Van Cortlandt ani.1 their staffs. What a courtly meeting that was 
may well be imagined. The Revolutionary war successfully end- 
ed, Independence was achieved, and now the Commander-in- 
Chief was to meet the Governor of this State, and so journey on 
together with imposing retinue and triumphal procession to the 
city of New York. We may be assured that all the punctillious 



WASH im; ION at iarrn idwn. 23 

military and courtly ctit|ucttc of those times was scrupulously 
oliserved on that occasion, and tlu-rc never \vas before nor since 
such a statelv affair in Tarryto\\'n. 

We may picture (ieneral Washin.u;ton with his hrilliant array 
of oflficers that day. Among his Aids was Col. Uavid Gobi), of 
Massachusetts, a t;raduate of Harvard, Delegate to the Provincial 
Congress, afterwards Lieut. (}o\-ernor — -a brave soldier and a 
cultured geiitleman ; Col. Da\-id 1 1 uini)hrevs, of Connecticut, the 
intimate companion and specially trusted friend of Washington, 
a learned Doctor ol Laws, Historian, Poet, afterwards Ambas- 
sador to the courts of Portugal and Spain; the brilliant Mcllcnr\' 
and the liery Tilgliman of ALiryhuid; Col. Webb, a distinguished 
son of Connecticut ; Gen. Knox, afterwards Secretary of War; 
Col. Wm. S. Smith, a graduate of Princeton, former Aid to Sulli- 
van and LaFayette, in I7<S4 Secretary of Legation to London, 
where he married Abigail Adams, only daughter of John Adams, 
then Minister to England and afterwards President of the United 
States — Surveyor of the Port of New York, U. S. Marshal. Presi- 
dent of the Society of Cincinnati and Member of Congress; and 
Paron Steul)en. Insi)ector General of the Continental army, dis- 
tinguished as formerly an Aid to Frederick the Great, was prob- 
ably also present. 

It was such a distinguished military suite that turned out with 
Washington in knightly array to meet the great war Governor of 
this State, and the Lieut. -Governt)r and their retinue as they rode 
into Tarrytown that day. 

Governor and General Get)rge Clinton was himself one of the 
conspicuous and ft)remost men of that time. Asa youth of only 
17 he had joined a privateer on the high seas, and at 19 won dis- 
tinction as a Lieutenant in the successful exi^etlition under Col. 
Bradstreet against Fort Frontenac. Was successively Surrogate, 
Member of the Provincial Assembly 1775, in 1776 a Brigadier 
General in the Continental army. 1777 to 1795 Governor of this 
State, President of the Convention to deliberate on the Federal 
Constitution, Governor again from 1801 to 1804. then for two 
terms Vice IVesident of the United States. This was the then 



24 WASinXCiTON AT TAKRYTOWX. 

Governor and General George Clinton, eminent as a soldier and 
as a civilian, none more so in the history of this State. 

And then there ^\'as Lient.-Go^^ and Gen. Pierre Van Cortlandt, 
who, spurning the seductions of the Loyalist Gov. Tryon, had 
bravelv risked his fortune and his all in the cause of the strug- 
gling Colonies. A patriarch ^vith the benignant mien of a Frank- 
lin, — of pure and blameless life, iuid unsullied character, — a 
Patriot indeed. For i8 years he filled the office of Lieut. -Gover- 
nor with honor. Also during much of the early war period acted 
as President of the Provincial Congress of this State. 

And there were their Aids: Col. P.obert Benson, the able Sec- 
retarv of the Provincial Congress, and Private Secretary of the 
Gt)vernor, afterw^ards prt)minent in public affairs. Col. Campbell, 
probably Col. Samuel of Cherry Valley, and others. 

This \vas the personnel, as near as may be, of the oFticial party 
that met that day in Tarrytown, with Washington })eerless abo\e 
them all. And they were guests at the modest inn of P^dward 
Couenhoven, corner of Main Street and Broadv^-a}', .since called 
Washington Place, in honor of that event. The hillsides mean- 
while were gay v/ith the cavalcade of light infanr\' and troopers 
that acted as escort. And the next day they \vent on together, an 
imposing cavalcade in the direction of Vonkers and New York. 
So they rode away, Gov. Clinton, coming to his own; Washington, 
thoughtful of the morrow, of the sad parting with his comrades- 
at-arms, and of the great laljor which yet remained of wekling 
the independent States into a Nation. 

This in brief, is the story of Washington at Tarrytow]i. And 
everv highway and byway ov^er which he so marched, and every 
place where his feet so rested, is lifted up to the heroics; it is no 
longer common ground. His name and fame are thus indissolubly 
connected with this place, and in some spot so forever associated 
with the thought of his august personality and presence, should 
be the future home of this Societv. 



"WASHINGTON AT TARRYTOWN." 

In accordance with the vote and kindly request of tlie Tarry- 
town Historical Society, the paper read by Mr. M. D. Raymond 
on the above subject at tlie meetin^^ of that Society held on the 
i6th of December, is herewith pubhshed. The subject was com- 
paratively neAv to the w^riter until the recent invitation to ])rcpare 
a paper upon it had been acceptetl, and whatever it may h\ck in 
fullness of detail may in part at least be charged over to account 
of such limitations. It was found an interesting subject, and one 
which might be still further ])ursued. 

The romance connected with the subject is touched upon as 
^vell as the authenticated facts of history, and the few remaining 
local traditions have been gathered up as best they might be, but 
alas, how many are hopelessly lost in the mazes of the past. To 
m;iny of the residents of this vicinage during the Revolutionary 
period, Washington ^vas a familiar figure; they had seen him on 
various occasions as he passed by, and some doubtless IkuI per- 
sonally Icnown him. He was here and there from time to time, 
as those who saw him remembered well, and in after years they 
had often told the stor)-, but with their lives almost perished the 
memory of what had been to them such a distinct realism — only 
here and there a fragment of the narrative being preserved; but 
for these we are thankful, and now some of them so remaining 
are grouj)ed together in this historical i)aper. 

The writer is indebted for information on this sul)ject, to many 
sources; but first antl foremost he is under ol)ligation, and the 
Tarrytown Historical Society and the public are imder great ob- 
ligations, to Lieut.. Gov. Van Cortlandt, for his making that 
memoi-andum of the meeting here, at Edward Couenhoven's, 
Tarrytown, of Gov. Clinton and himself with Washington and 
his Aids, on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 19th, 1783, and to 
Mrs. C. E. Van Cortlandt of the Manor House, h)r finding and 
preserving that to us important data without which cm interest- 
ing chapter in the sketch of "Washington at Tarrytown'.' could 



26 WASIIINc; TON AT rARRVTOWN. 

nev^er have been written, but which will now be forever so pre- 
served. 

In this connection we -wa)uld make acknowledgment to Mrs. 
Van Cortlandt for personal courtesy and helpfulness in this mat- 
ter, and also to many others. To Dr. Coutant, for use of his 
valuable library and luistinted personal assistance ; to Col. Kent, 
for use of his rare historical volumes and his k'indly aid ; State 
Librarian Howell ; the N. Y. Historical Society ; Mrs Lamb, and 
the American Magazine of History ; Mr. Benson Ferris ; Mrs. 
Beekman ; Miss Sirrene ; Elias Mann. Escp ; Mr. and Mrs Jacob 
Mott ; Rev. Dr. Todd, for his k'indly aid and use c-f his library ; 
L. T. Yale, Esq., E. T. Lovatt, Esc[., Mrs. James Hawes, A. D. 
vStephens, C. S. Davison, Estp, Hon. N. Holmes Odell, an<l m;iny 
others. 

We have adverted to the fact that Washington was personally 
known to at least S(.)me of those living here during the Revolu- 
tion. As will be seen. Col. Hammond met him on several oc- 
casion, and once sent a communication to hini hy the hand of 
Capt. Dutcher. That was Capt. Wm. Dutcher, the great grand- 
father of Mr. Benson I-^'erris, who so carried a message to Wash- 
ington with ortlers to explain matters more full}' to him in j)crson. 
Then P^dward Couenhoven and his wife Annatje, entertained him 
at their \x\\\. Perhaps sometimes Edw^ard was away from hon.e 
on dut}' — for he was a soldier in Col. Hammond's Regt. — when 
Washington called, but his good Duteh vrow was there, and quite 4 
capable of attending to the duties of a gen.erous host. B}- the 
"Way, they have a great grandson living in the person of Rev, 
Edward Conover, as the orthography of the name now is, — at 
Rutland, Vermont. And their son Jacob Couenht)ven, married 
the sister of Mrs. Jane Tompkins Ct)nkling, an estimable old lad\^ 
who liv^es at the corner of Elizabeth and Washington St., who 
was a niece of Hon. Daniel D. Tompkins, distinguished as Gov- 
ernor of this State, and Vice President of the United States. Mrs. 
Conkling does not remem ber seeing Washingttju, but she does very 
well remember Isaac Van Wart, one of the Captors of Andre. 

In this connection we are also pleased to note the fact that the 
Couenhoven family are now represented in Tarrytown b}- Mrs. 



WASlllNCTON AT TARR VIOWN. 2/ 

Edward Scbrin*^, whose lato ]iasl)aiul, wlio died al Charleston, S. 
C, 1886, was a son of Ann Couenhoven Sebring, wife of Corne- 
lius B. Sebring; aiid it w^as she who remembered Washini^ton as 
already stated. Edward Sebrin<^, wdio was so the grandson of 
Edward Couenhoven, was a jjrominent Banker in Charleston for 
many years, and mneh ot the time his mother resided with him. 
She was al\va\'s desirous to be bui'ied \\'hen she died, in the old 
Duteli Church yard at Tarr\'to\vn, in the jdace reser\'ed for her 
l)etween lier fcither and mother; which promise given was 
])iously l<:ei)t. 

Mrs. lulward Sebring, above referred to, now of this place, 
confirms the stor\- of Washington's visits to the I'Ldward Couen- 
hoven Inn, and adds the rememl)erance of a k'iss on the cheek ot 
the then fair little chiughter, Ann Couenhoven. Mrs. Sebring is a 
cultured lady, and her family includes her daughter, and son-in- 
law, Mr. and Mrs. K. B. Bassett, and a little grand daughter 
I'iamed Marie Coueidioven. a great-great-grand-daughter of Ed- 
ward and Annatje Couenhoven, who entertained Washington 
here. 

It may be of interest in this connection to state, that Governor 
George Clinton is at ju-esent represented in Tarrytown by a 
great-grandson in the person of George Clinton Andrews, I*>s([., 
and Lieut-Gov. Pierre Van Corthuult is rei)resented here by a 
great-granddaughter in the person of Mrs. Gertrude Beekman ot 
North Tarrytown, while at least one of the Continental soldiers 
who marched through Tarrytown under Washington on the 
night of July 2d, I 78 I, and again in return on the 19th of August 
of the same year, is represented here, in the person oi tlie writer. 

The portrait of Washington jjresented is after a Trumbull, 
which has been engrave<l in steel for the American Magasinc of 
History, — the best possible attainable representing him as the 
Soklier of the Revolution, and at the age at which he ai)i)eared in 
Tarrytown. And so we will take final leave of "Washington at 
Tarrytown," as he did on that November day in 1783, trusting 
that his memory may linger here forever an inspiration for good, 
and a never fading i)icture in the ])ictui'esc]ue past. — Tarrytozvn 
Argus, Dec. 2j, iSpo. 



28 WASHINGTON AT TARRVTOVVN. 

In the Argus of the same date appeared the following compli- 
mentary allusions to the foregoing paper from the pen of Rev. 
Dr. J. A. Todd: 

"As one of those \vho had the privilege of being present at the 
meeting of the Tarrytown Historical Society last Tuesday even- 
ing, Dec. 1 6th, I cannot refrain from expressing my gratification 
and thanks to the gentlemen who gave us so much instruction 
and pleasure so delightfully combined. 

"The paper of M. D. Raymond, Esq., presenting in connected 
narrative and appropriate setting, in the chronological succession 
of events, the story of Washington's visits and relations to Tarry- 
town during the Revolution, was one of remarkable interest, lUnd 
it held the fixed attenti(Mi of his audience froni its opening to its 
close. By a resolution unanimousl}' adopted he recei\'ed the 
thanks of the Society for his important contribution to our his- 
torical knowledge, and also a rec{uest that he j^ublish his paper 
in full in the columns of The Tarrj'town Argus. As it will thvis 
be given to the world, there is no occasion lo attempt a statement 
of its contents here, further than to say, that it embraced all the 
facts hitherto kno^vn about Washington in Tarr\town, besides 
others, gleamed b}- indefatigable search, which lud ^.c^■cr be- 
fore been brought to public notice. 

"The unusual accuracy of detail, with day and tlate, the 
vividness of description, owing parti}' no doubt to the familiarity 
of his audience with the places described, l.nit more largely to a 
certain poetic tinge in the language, and the line enthusiasm of 
the speaker himself who was thorough]}' imbued with the spirit 
,of his theme, lent a pleasing attraction to the recital, which, Mr. 
Yale justly said, in moving a vote of thanks, must have been felt 
by every person in the assembly." 



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